Representative Adam Smith Introduces Voluntary Grazing Permit Retirement Act to Promote Conservation of Public Lands

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today introduced the Voluntary Grazing Permit Retirement Act (VGPRA), legislation to expand the successful model of voluntary federal grazing permit retirement across the western United States. The bill creates a market-based, cooperative tool to reduce conflicts between domestic livestock grazing and other critical uses of public lands, including wildlife habitat, clean water, hunting and fishing, and outdoor recreation, while providing fair compensation to ranchers who voluntarily retire their grazing permits. 

Under the VGPRA, ranchers operating on public lands may choose to permanently waive their federal grazing permits in exchange for equitable compensation from private parties. Federal agencies would then retire those allotments from further grazing, ensuring lasting benefits for wildlife, recreation, and the millions of people who depend on healthy public lands. 

“Our public lands are a shared inheritance. They sustain wildlife, clean water, and outdoor recreation for millions of Americans,” said Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.). “This bill gives ranchers and conservation partners a fair, voluntary path to resolve long-standing conflicts and restore fragile ecosystems. It’s a pragmatic solution that supports local economies, protects biodiversity, and saves taxpayer dollars by reducing the cost of administering grazing programs.” 

Background 

Permitted livestock grazing occurs on over 200 million acres of federal public lands — the most widespread use of those lands nationwide. Many of these landscapes face pressures from drought, invasive grasses, and shifting land-use demands that can cause costly conflicts among ranching, recreation, and conservation interests. The VGPRA provides a fair and voluntary solution that benefits both ranchers and the environment by giving permittees flexibility to make the best choices for their operations and their land. 

Specifically, the VGPRA: 

• Authorizes ranchers in 16 Western states to voluntarily waive federal grazing permits or leases with the intent to permanently end livestock grazing on an allotment.
• Ensures that any retired allotment cannot be re-leased for new grazing permits.
• Caps the number of accepted retirements at 100 per year across all Western states, or 25 per state, to provide manageable, incremental implementation.
• Helps restore wildlife corridors, protect water quality, and reduce the costs of administering grazing programs.
• Encourages collaboration between ranchers, land managers, and conservation organizations.  

Bill text here. Fact sheet here.

Endorsements: 

The bill is endorsed by: Sierra Club, American Bird Conservancy, Wilderness Watch, Western Watersheds Project, Animal Welfare Institute, Center for Biological Diversity, WildEarth Guardians, Los Padres ForestWatch, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Oregon Natural Desert Association, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Kettle Range Conservation Group, Predator Defense, Wildlife for All, and Friends of the Clearwater. 

Supporting Statements 

“The VGPRA provides a simple and time-tested solution to conflicts between domestic livestock on public lands and other uses including wildlife habitat, water quality, hunting and angling, and recreation,” said Josh Osher, Public Policy Director for Western Watersheds Project. “Expanding this opportunity for public lands across the West is a common-sense step that provides lasting benefits to ranchers, taxpayers, wildlife, and the millions of people that visit and enjoy public lands.” 

“Grassland birds—the fastest declining group of birds—need healthy and diverse grasslands to survive,” said Steve Riley, Chief Conservation Officer for the American Bird Conservancy. “Some grasslands in the West are no longer viable as grazing lands, and their retirement can help restore ecosystems and the conservation benefits they provide, including bird habitat.” 

“Wilderness Watch strongly supports the Voluntary Grazing Permit Retirement Act,” said Wilderness Watch. “Most Americans are shocked to learn that domestic livestock graze over 25 million acres of wilderness areas in the Lower 48. This bill will bolster protection for public lands and wilderness areas, allotment by allotment, fairly and permanently.” 

“Increasing aridification is making it economically infeasible for ranchers to graze public lands, even with grazing fees heavily subsidized by taxpayers,” said WildEarth Guardians. “The VGPRA is a pragmatic solution that will benefit ranching families, taxpayers, and public lands alike.” 

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